Bush, in Shift, Taps Into Emergency Iraq Funds

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 21, 2004, 2:16 pm

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... funding_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has begun tapping its $25 billion emergency fund for the Iraq war to prepare for a major troop rotation and intense fighting this fall, administration officials said on Tuesday, despite the White House's initial insistence that it had enough money.

The Pentagon has already used more than $2 billion from what was dubbed its "contingency reserve" fund.

The money is being used to ramp up production of armored Humvees to support the troop rotation, as well as to buy body armor and bolster fuel supplies, the officials told Reuters.

The decision to use the $25 billion in Iraq reserves underscores growing concern within the administration about the rise in anti-American violence in Iraq.

White House officials had initially insisted the Pentagon had "very ample resources" and would not need additional funding until well after the November presidential election.

The decision also follows last week's announcement that President Bush planned to divert nearly $3.5 billion from Iraqi water, power and other reconstruction projects in a bid to improve security.

"As we've always said, our troops in the field will have what they need, when they need it," said Chad Kolton, spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget.

"In this case, making some of those resources available now ensures that our troops will have the equipment they need going into the fall (rotation)," Kolton added.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry accused Bush this week of hiding plans to call up more members of the part-time National Guard and Reserve after the election.

The Bush campaign called Kerry's assertion "false and ridiculous," and administration officials said the Pentagon decided to tap into the reserve fund because resources were running low with the fiscal year near its Sept. 30 end.

ENOUGH FUNDING?

Congressional aides and defense analysts said the use of the reserve funds could be an early sign that the Pentagon will run out of money sooner than the White House had expected.

Even before the recent flare-up in the insurgency, U.S. military operations in Iraq cost about $4.4 billion per month, the Pentagon said.

The United States has spent $120 billion so far in Iraq, not including the $25 billion contingency fund. Officials said the White House could seek another $50 billion early in 2005.

But congressional aides and analysts say the size of that package would grow substantially if fighting intensifies, as expected, before Iraqi elections scheduled for January. "I think it's apparent we're going to need the upper end of the estimates rather than the lower end," said John Pike, a defense analyst with GlobalSecurity.org.

Critics accused Bush of hiding the war's true cost.

Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said tapping into emergency reserves was "another example of this administration saying one thing and doing another."

Before the war, then-White House budget director Mitch Daniels predicted Iraq would be "an affordable endeavor," and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz even assured Congress: "We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."

Until early May, Bush had refused to acknowledge that any additional money would be needed for Iraq until after the November presidential election.

But as costs rose and pressure mounted from military leaders for additional resources, Bush asked for the $25 billion. Still, the White House described the money as a "contingency reserve" and an "insurance policy," and said it might never be tapped.

"This administration is riddled with flip-flops," Conrad said, echoing a charge Bush uses against Kerry.

How much is too much? How much farther into debt is our wonderful leader willing to take us to make another country better; at the cost of fucking up his own..

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » September 21, 2004, 2:20 pm

Selfesh Fuck!!

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » September 21, 2004, 2:27 pm

How much is too much? How much farther into debt is our wonderful leader willing to take us to make another country better; at the cost of fucking up his own..

At this point, you guys are morally committed. The leader of your country spearheaded the mess, thus it should be your responsibility to clean it up (along with those who aided you in making it).

The "Coalition of the Willing" smashed what remained of Iraq's infrastructure, removed Iraq's entire governmental structure (including police and other civil authorities) and created the quasi-anarchist state that exists there.

Who else should pay for reconstruction and be responsible for ensuring that peace is restored to the area?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 21, 2004, 4:39 pm

i'm not so concerned with the fact that we have to keep spending money on Iraq. We have to spend whatever it takes to succeed at this point.

My problem is that we cannot cut taxes at the same time we have this additional unbudgeted spending. It is pretty basic in my view.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » September 21, 2004, 5:17 pm

We should have never invaded Iraq, this is already accepted by all but the fanatics, The man in charge of this mess (george dubyah bush) deserves to be fired.

As far as a "Solution", there is none, were fucked if we do and were fucked if we dont. By continuing to spend money and time in Iraq we are taking a chance, a chance that Iraq may cooperate and not break further hell loose via civil war etc, unfortuately, it looks like all this money, time, effort and american life will go to waste one way or another.

The best solution i could come up with is it withdraw 75% of our troops, gather the rest of our troops in say Iraq or a centralized area to show that we are "supporting" the rebuilding, being that we fucked it up in the first place, and give say 50% of the money we are now, and give control back over to the UN

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 21, 2004, 5:22 pm

What bothers me is that "we" represents our country as a whole. I think Bush should pay for it personally until he's bankrupt. Then do the same for Cheney. Then let the government start hiring non-government financial advisers to come in and teach our government how to make a budget and not file for chapter 11.

Drasta · Post by **Drasta** » September 21, 2004, 11:51 pm

we just need to pull out like a bad fuck....

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 22, 2004, 12:29 am

Bush needs to kick more ass.

Our specialty is steamrolling countries initially and not occupying them so we need to take advantage of our strengths. What we should be doing is moving country to country in the middle east in a continuous steamroll...Iraq--->Iran--->Syria--->Pakistan maybe if they look at us funny--->Jordan to clear some space for Israel--->Saudi Arabia---> then repeat the cycle.

No getting bogged down in occupying countries, just the made for TV, fast moving, ass kicking our troops excel at.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 22, 2004, 9:22 am

Winnow wrote:Our specialty is steamrolling

Too much time in CT for you.

We need a good steamrolling thread here at VV. It's been eons.